Process for recovering boron trifluoride

Abstract

There is provided a process for recovering boron trifluoride catalyst from an oligomerization mixture, which comprises introducing an oligomerization mixture containing catalyst comprising boron trifluoride and a complex of boron trifluoride and cocatalyst into a copper-nickel-made recovery reactor, heating the oligomerization mixture at or above a decomposition temperature of the complex, and separating and recovering boron trifluoride from the oligomerization mixture. According to the process, the boron trifluoride can be recovered effectively from the oligomerization mixture without causing the corrosion problem of the recovery reactor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for recovering boron trifluoride from an olefin oligomerization mixture containing olefin oligomers, comprising the steps of: introducing an olefin oligomerization mixture containing olefin oligomers, which has been prepared by oligomerizing an olefin with 6-14 carbon atoms in the presence of catalyst comprising boron trifluoride and a complex of boron trifluoride and cocatalyst, into a recovery reactor of which at least an inner surface is formed with a copper-nickel alloy;   heating the oligomerization mixture at or above a decomposition temperature of the complex; and   separating and recovering boron trifluoride from the oligomerization mixture.   
     
     
       2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the oligomerization mixture is introduced to the recovery reactor maintained at a temperature of 80°-180° C. 
     
     
       3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the copper-nickel alloy contains 90-60 wt. % of copper and 10-40 wt. % of nickel. 
     
     
       4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the recovery reactor is totally made of the copper-nickel alloy. 
     
     
       5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the oligomerization mixture is heated and maintained at 80°- 180° C. 
     
     
       6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the oligomerization mixture is heated and maintained at 100°-155° C.